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9780197521892

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The vast majority of terrorist, insurgent and revolutionary movements have failed spectacularly, so why do they continue to nurture a romantic strategic vision? This exceptionally well-researched and brilliantly argued text answers this question. -- Richard J. Aldrich, Professor of International Security, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, University of Warwick Terrorists have big ambitions but very little power, so what motivates them to achieve their goals? Wilkinson answers this question by analysing the scripts of terrorism -- the stories terrorists tell themselves. Essential reading for students and researchers of terrorism. -- Jack Holland, Associate Professor in International Relations / Security, University of Leeds Wilkinson's book is an important contribution to terrorism literature. It systematically identifies and interrogates a series of scripts used by violent Islamist groups in pursuit of their aims. A highly informative read for students and scholars of terrorism alike. -- Wyn Bowen, Head of School for the School of Security Studies, King's College London Much has been written about the phenomenon of terrorism, but this book offers a fresh perspective, entering the mindset of terrorists in order to understand why they use terrorist methods when such methods rarely succeed. A very valuable addition to the literature on terrorism. -- Helen Fenwick, Professor in Durham Law School, Durham University Terrorism rarely achieves its aims because the grand political and social ambitions motivating violence are usually far beyond perpetrators' means to affect. Benedict Wilkinson's excellent book explores ways terrorists have attempted the fundamental work of strategy: pairing means and ends. -- Kori Schake, Deputy Director-General, International Institute for Strategic Studies

The vast majority of terrorist, insurgent and revolutionary movements have failed spectacularly, so why do they continue to nurture a romantic strategic vision? This exceptionally well-researched and brilliantly argued text answers this question. -- Richard J. Aldrich, Professor of International Security, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, University of Warwick Terrorists have big ambitions but very little power, so what motivates them to achieve their goals? Wilkinson answers this question by analysing the scripts of terrorism -- the stories terrorists tell themselves. Essential reading for students and researchers of terrorism. -- Jack Holland, Associate Professor in International Relations / Security, University of Leeds Wilkinson's book is an important contribution to terrorism literature. It systematically identifies and interrogates a series of scripts used by violent Islamist groups in pursuit of their aims. A highly informative read for students and scholars of terrorism alike. -- Wyn Bowen, Head of School for the School of Security Studies, King's College London Much has been written about the phenomenon of terrorism, but this book offers a fresh perspective, entering the mindset of terrorists in order to understand why they use terrorist methods when such methods rarely succeed. A very valuable addition to the literature on terrorism. -- Helen Fenwick, Professor in Durham Law School, Durham University

The vast majority of terrorist, insurgent and revolutionary movements have failed spectacularly, so why do they continue to nurture a romantic strategic vision? This exceptionally well-researched and brilliantly argued text answers this question. -- Richard J. Aldrich, Professor of International Security, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, University of Warwick Terrorists have big ambitions but very little power, so what motivates them to achieve their goals? Wilkinson answers this question by analysing the scripts of terrorism -- the stories terrorists tell themselves. Essential reading for students and researchers of terrorism. -- Jack Holland, Associate Professor in International Relations / Security, University of Leeds Wilkinson's book is an important contribution to terrorism literature. It systematically identifies and interrogates a series of scripts used by violent Islamist groups in pursuit of their aims. A highly informative read for students and scholars of terrorism alike. -- Wyn Bowen, Head of School for the School of Security Studies, King's College London Much has been written about the phenomenon of terrorism, but this book offers a fresh perspective, entering the mindset of terrorists in order to understand why they use terrorist methods when such methods rarely succeed. A very valuable addition to the literature on terrorism. -- Helen Fenwick, Professor in Durham Law School, Durham University Terrorism rarely achieves its aims because the grand political and social ambitions motivating violence are usually far beyond perpetrators' means to affect. Benedict Wilkinson's excellent book explores ways terrorists have attempted the fundamental work of strategy: pairing means and ends. -- Kori Schake, Deputy Director-General, International Institute for Strategic Studies

Author Information

Benedict Wilkinson is Senior Research Fellow at King's College London's Policy Institute, where he works on contemporary defense, security and foreign policy issues. He completed his PhD in War Studies at King's under the supervision of Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, during which time he was Head of Security and Counter- Terrorism at RUSI. This is his second book.

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